Want lower healthcare costs? Stop squeezing independent doctors

Published June 23, 2026 11:00am ET




Healthcare costs are weighing heavily on Americans’ minds. A new Pew Research Center survey found that 73% of Americans consider the affordability of healthcare a “very big problem” for the country.

Congress has noticed. In recent months, lawmakers have held a series of healthcare affordability hearings examining why healthcare costs are rising — and what Washington can do about it. One of the most effective ways to address those concerns is by fixing Medicare’s broken physician payment system.

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